David Cameron will try to visit every flood-hit area around the country to "try and learn lessons" from the crisis.

Speaking in one of the worst affected areas in Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire, Mr Cameron said: "I'll try to get to every part of the country that's been affected so that we can learn all the lessons."

The Prime Minister, who earlier described the floods as a "tragedy", defended the Government's response to the crisis, adding that the Cobra emergency committee had been meeting since water levels started rising before Christmas.

The Army were deployed to Upton-upon-Severn after the town was cut in two by floodwaters, only after the damage had already been done.